Vandals cause $25,000 in damage to Eudora High School’s new stadium; police seek help in finding suspects

Vandals have caused at least $25,000 in damage to Eudora’s new high school stadium, putting community members in an uproar and prompting the school district to close the stadium to the public for now.

“This certainly is an unfortunate event for the patrons of the Eudora school district who invested a lot in this particular facility,” Superintendent Don Grosdidier said. “Now, we’re having to shut it down for a time until we can get it cleaned up and provide for a little better security.

“The actions of a few are causing problems for the many unfortunately.”

Eudora police are investigating the vandalism after school officials reported the damage Friday. Sgt. Tom Willis, a Eudora police spokesman, said someone — likely several suspects — spray painted profanities and rude images on the field’s artificial turf, the wall of a concession stand and a water tower near the stadium, 2203 Church St.

The new stadium, which was constructed with funds from a 2007 voter-approved bond issue, opened last fall, Grosdidier said. It cost just under $2 million, and it had been open to the public for walking and jogging as well.

Grosdidier said school officials believe the vandalism occurred overnight Thursday. The main problem is damage to the artificial turf, and the school district is working with its contractor to explore its options on how to repair the damage. But that part is still up in the air, he said.

“We just hope to find out who’s responsible and seek any damages that we can,” Grosdidier said.

The Eudora Police Department is asking for the public’s help. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the department at 785-542-3121.

“It’s a new facility that cost a lot of money to build. It’s a very nice facility,” Willis said. “For somebody to do this is really putting people in an uproar, as it should.”